How to Ease Horse Colic

Colic is a painful and a potential life-threatening condition in horses. It is caused by digestive upset where the digestive system is moving too quickly or too slowly. There are a variety of causes of colic including a poor diet, dehydration, bad feed, an impaction, parasites or a sudden change of diet. Colic should always be considered an emergency. If symptoms of colic appear, contact a veterinarian immediately. Symptoms include but are not limited to, frantic rolling on the ground, pawing at the ground, nipping at the legs or stomach area, rapid heartbeat and rapid breathing, diarrhea or lack of bowel movements. While you wait for the veterinarians arrival, try to minimize the horse's discomfort.

Things You'll Need

  • Aspirin or bute
  • Oral syringe
  • Turkey baster
  • Bran mush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Call a veterinarian immediately upon the first signs of colic.

    • 2

      Keep the environment around the horse quiet and calm to avoid upsetting the horse.

    • 3

      Remove all hay from the horses area. A horse exhibiting symptoms of colic should not eat hay. Hay could further complicate the condition.

    • 4

      Move any objects out of the way so that the horse does not get hurt when rolling on the ground.

    • 5

      Give your horse a dose of asiprin or bute to relieve pain if your veterinarian has given you permission to do so. Give the medication by oral syringe by inserting the syringe in the side of the horse's mouth between the teeth.

    • 6

      Walk your horse for a 10-minute period of time once an hour. Walking encourages the digestive system to move and takes the horse's mind off the pain. Do not ride on your horse. Do not force your horse to walk.

    • 7

      Feed your horse bran mush with your veterinarians approval. Also upon your veterinarians approval, add aspirin to the mush for pain relief. Do not add aspirin to the mush if you recently administered aspirin orally.